ISL presenters on ensuring deaf children can watch Toy Show 'in their first language'
Late Late show host, Patrick Kielty with children participating in the Late Late Toy Show, from left, Emmy Nolan (9) from Carlow, Tara Dowling (5) from Carlow, Harley Wallace (9) from Navan Louis Hanna (6) from Dublin, Sofia Ngobeni (10) from Carlow, Cuinn O'Dowd (5) from Navan and Layla Valentine (8) from Carlow. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin.
The importance of inclusivity and accessibility has been highlighted by this year’s Late Late Toy Show Irish Sign Language (ISL) presenters ahead of tonight’s highly anticipated show.
Presenters Sarah-Jane O'Regan and Jason Maguire will work alongside hearing interpreters Ciara Grant and Lisa Harvey-Coleman during tonight's live broadcast, which will see ISL access on the Late Late Toy Show for the second year in a row.
The caught up with both presenters ahead of the show, who told us how important it is that all children across the country, and even the adults, feel included in this special night.
Speaking about the importance of ISL on the show, presenter Sarah-Jane O’Regan told the : “It’s so important to have ISL access on the show - visual representation by not just interpreters but deaf interpreters which is really important. Deaf children need to be able to see themselves in the future, they need to have those role models there.
"It's the magic of the Toy Show in their first language and it’s a really beautiful night for deaf children and for the children of deaf adults and deaf adults themselves who never had ISL access growing up.
"The inner child in them gets the opportunity to really access the show.”
Jason Maguire said that it means a lot to him to have been selected to return to the Late Late Toy Show as a deaf presenter and said he hopes they will make the deaf community proud tonight.
“It means a lot to me,” he said.
“When Tracy and RTÉ contacted me and asked me to be part of it again this year, it’s a huge honour to be involved. I hope the deaf community are proud of us. It’s such an honour to represent them here.”
The Late Late Toy Show ISL will be available to stream shortly after the live broadcast and will be repeated on the ISL block on Wednesday, December 11.
